WO2006011492A1

WO2006011492A1 - Portable telephone and autofucusing method

Info

Publication number: WO2006011492A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/013668
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daiji Ido
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-07-27
Filing date: 2005-07-26
Publication date: 2006-02-02
Also published as: JP2006039189A; EP1767973A1; JP3923056B2; EP1767973A4; US20080303937A1

Abstract

A portable telephone whose focusing operation is facilitated, with which missing of an opportunity of snapping can be prevented, and whose usability is improved. In the portable telephone, a camera section (101) images an object displayed on a display section (108). An autofocus region selection section (104) has a group of pressing switches that are of the same number as the number of autofocus regions, and the pressing switches are in one-to-one correspondence with the autofocus regions. The autofocus region selection section (104) selects the autofocus region in which the number that is same as the number of a pressed switch is displayed. An autofocus section (105) focuses on an object displayed in the selected autofocus region. The display section (108) displays preview images divided into the autofocus regions and displays different numbers for each of the autofocus regions.

Description

Specification

Mobile phone and autofocus method

Technical field

The present invention relates to a mobile phone with a camera and an autofocus method for the mobile phone.

Background art

[0002] Conventionally, as a technique for focusing on a main subject, when shooting an image, select a desired auto-force region in the middle of multiple autofocus areas to focus on the main subject. The technology to do is known. The autofocus area is an area for obtaining information at the time of focus adjustment such as a focus detection point or a distance measurement point. In many digital cameras, the autofocus area is displayed on an image to be photographed (hereinafter referred to as a “preview image”) displayed on a display device such as a liquid crystal screen that is not displayed on the viewfinder. In a camera having such an autofocus area, the autofocus area can be roughly classified into a manual selection method and an automatic selection method.

[0003] The automatic selection method is a method in which the optimum autofocus area is automatically selected without the photographer selecting an autofocus area. There is a problem that a different autofocus area is selected.

[0004] The manual selection method solves the problem that a subject different from the photographer's intention is selected, and designates a desired autofocus point moving direction by manual operation. According to this, it is possible to accurately focus on the main subject intended by the photographer during photographing (for example, Patent Document 1). As a manual selection method, for example, the photographer selects a plurality of autofocus areas displayed on the viewfinder with a dial button, or the photographer selects a plurality of autofocus areas displayed on the viewfinder. There is also a method of selecting a desired subject by moving the cursor sequentially in one area up, down, left, and right by buttons arranged in four places, up, down, left, and right.

Patent Document 1: JP 2001-350085 A Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] However, when a plurality of autofocus areas are set in the conventional apparatus !, the photographer is required to select each area until the main subject intended by the photographer is selected. There is a problem that the operation is troublesome because it is necessary to move the cursor sequentially. Furthermore, in the conventional apparatus, if the number of autofocus areas increases, it takes time until the desired autofocus area is selected. There is. If the autofocus area is fixed so that the photo opportunity is not missed, the photographer cannot compose the composition freely because the autofocus area is fixed at a fixed position. Once the focus is adjusted, it is necessary to change the composition by moving the camera itself, which is inconvenient.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile phone and an autofocus method capable of facilitating a focusing operation and preventing missed shutter chances and improving usability. It is.

Means for solving the problem

[0007] The mobile phone of the present invention includes a display unit that displays an image to be captured in a plurality of regions, a selection unit that selects one of the regions based on a user instruction, and a selection by the selection unit. Auto-focus means for performing auto-focus processing on the region that has been recorded, and photographing means for photographing the photographing object displayed on the display means while being focused on the region by the auto-focus means. The configuration comprising

[0008] In the autofocus method of the present invention, the image to be photographed is divided into a plurality of regions and displayed on a display screen, and the region is shifted by a switch corresponding to the region on a one-to-one basis. And a step of focusing on the selected area.

The invention's effect [0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the operation of focusing, to prevent missed shutter opportunities, and to improve usability.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] (Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of mobile phone 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The camera unit 101 captures a shooting target displayed on the display unit 108 as a preview image in a state in which the autofocus unit 105 described later focuses on the desired shooting target. Then, the camera unit 101 outputs image data of the captured image to the image processing unit 102.

The image processing unit 102 performs predetermined data processing on the image data input from the camera unit 101 and outputs the processed data to the image recording unit 103.

The image recording unit 103 records the image data of the captured image input from the image processing unit 102 based on an instruction from the image capturing control unit 109, and stores information related to the recording of the image data. Output to 109.

[0016] The autofocus area selection unit 104, which is a selection unit, selects a desired autofocus area from among a plurality of autofocus areas, and outputs information on the selected autofocus area to the autofocus section 105. The autofocus area selection unit 104 includes, for example, a group of pressing switches provided in the same number as the number of autofocus areas corresponding one-to-one for each of the plurality of autofocus areas. Select the autofocus area where the same number is displayed!

[0017] Based on an instruction from the image capturing control unit 109, the autofocus unit 105 selects the autofocus selected by the autofocus region selection unit 104 based on the autofocus region information input from the autofocus region selection unit 104. Define the area as the focus measurement area Thus, the autofocus area selection unit 104 is adjusted so as to focus on the shooting target displayed in the area selected. Then, the autofocus unit 105 controls the camera unit 101 so as to perform shooting at the adjusted focus, and outputs information regarding the adjusted focus to the image shooting control unit 109.

The image capturing determination unit 106 determines the timing for capturing an image and outputs information on the determined timing to the image capturing control unit 109.

[0019] The superimposing unit 107 generates a superimposed image by superimposing a grid-like frame for dividing the preview image and a number display for designating the auto force area by a number. The number of each area is displayed in each frame. Then, the superimposing unit 107 outputs the superimposed image data to the display unit 108.

[0020] Display unit 108 superimposes the superimposed image input from overlay unit 107 on the preview image based on an instruction from image capturing control unit 109, and displays information related to the image capturing. Output to the control unit 109.

The image capturing control unit 109 includes timing information input from the image capturing determining unit 106, information regarding recording of image data input from the image recording unit 103, information regarding the focus input from the autofocus unit 105, and a display unit Based on the display information input from 108, image capture control is performed !, image data recording instruction to image recording unit 103, focus adjustment instruction to autofocus unit 105, and display unit 108 are controlled. Display instructions.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the mobile phone 200. The mobile phone 200 is, for example, a portable mobile terminal device, and includes all the configurations shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 200 is arranged at a position where the camera unit 101, the auto focus area selection unit 104, and the display unit 108 (not shown) can be visually recognized from the outside in an operable state. The display unit 108 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays an overlapped image for selecting an autofocus area on the preview image in an image capturing mode in which the image is captured. In the case of FIG. 2, the preview image is divided into nine autofocus areas # 201 to # 209, and consecutive numbers 1 to 9 are displayed in each autofocus area # 201 to # 209. . [0024] The autofocus area selection unit 104 includes buttons 211 to 219 which are pressing parts of the pressing switch and a determination button 210 which is a shutter for starting a photographing process. Buttons 21 to 219 are used to specify the phone number of the other party in the non-image shooting mode, which is a state where no image shooting is performed, and to specify the content when browsing a web page connected to a network such as the Internet. This is used to specify any command that the user selects by selecting a number. When button 211 is selected, autofocus area # 201 is selected, when button 212 is selected, autofocus area # 202 is selected, and when button 213 is selected, autofocus area # 201 is selected. When 203 is selected and button 214 is selected, autofocus area # 204 is selected. When button 215 is selected, autofocus area # 205 is selected and when button 216 is selected. Autofocus area # 206 is selected, autofocus area # 207 is selected when button 217 is selected, and autofocus area # 208 is selected when button 218 is selected, When button 219 is selected, autofocus area # 209 is selected. When the photographer presses the buttons 211 to 219 corresponding to the desired autofocus area and selects the autofocus area # 201 to # 209, the autofocus area 105 is selected by the photographer. # Perform autofocus processing to focus on 209. Then, after the autofocus process, when the photographer presses the enter button 210, the shooting process is started.

For example, when the button 215 displaying “5” is pressed, the autofocus area # 205 displaying “5” is selected and the focus is adjusted. In addition, when “8” is displayed on the front surface and the button 218 is pressed, “8” is displayed! The focus area # 208 is selected and the focus is adjusted. In the case of Figure 2, the background is focused when the autofocus area # 205 is selected, and the person is focused when the autoforce area # 208 is selected. Even so, images can be taken with different focal points according to the photographer's intention. In order to make a person stand out more, a situation may be considered in which the button 218 is selected and pressed, the autofocus area # 208 is selected as the autofocus area, and the focus is adjusted.

Next, the operation of the mobile phone 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 3 shows a mobile phone 10 It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 0.

[0027] The autofocus area selection unit 104 determines whether or not the buttons 211 to 219 are pressed (step ST301). When it is determined that the buttons 211 to 219 are pressed, the autofocus unit 105 performs autofocus on the autofocus area # 201 to # 209 of the number of the pressed buttons 211 to 219 (step ST302). ). Next, the auto force area selection unit 104 determines whether the buttons 211 to 219 are pressed and the force has also elapsed for a predetermined time (step ST303). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the autofocus area selection unit 104 determines whether or not the determination button 210 has been pressed (step ST304). When determination button 210 is pressed, camera unit 101 performs shooting, and image recording unit 103 records the captured image (step ST305).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST301 that the buttons 211 to 219 are not pressed, the autofocus area selection unit 104 determines whether or not the buttons 211 to 219 are pressed at a predetermined timing. Continue monitoring. If the predetermined time has elapsed in step ST303, autofocus area selection section 104 ends the process assuming that the autofocus area has not been selected. Further, when the determination button 210 is not pressed in step ST304, the processing in step ST303 is repeated.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the buttons 211 to 219 corresponding to the numbers of the autofocus areas displayed superimposed on the preview image, the photographer can Compare the preview image with the buttons 211 to 219 and select the autofocus area simply by pressing the buttons 211 to 219 that have the same number as the number of the desired autofocus area displayed superimposed on the preview image. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the operation of focusing and to prevent missed shutter opportunities and to improve usability.

Note that, according to the present embodiment, the force using the decision button 210 for deciding to start the photographing process is not limited to this. When the buttons 211 to 219 are pressed, the autofocus is performed. The imaging process may be performed subsequently after the residue process. In the present embodiment, the force of selecting the autofocus area by pressing the buttons 211 to 219 is not limited to this, and the autofocus area displayed superimposed on the preview image is not limited to this. It is possible to select the autofocus area by using any selection means corresponding one-to-one with the number.

[0031] This specification is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-218573 filed on July 27, 2004. All this content is included here.

Industrial applicability

[0032] The present invention can facilitate the focusing operation and prevent the shutter chance from being missed, has the effect of improving usability, and is suitable for use in a mobile phone. .

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] display means for displaying an image to be captured in a plurality of areas;

Based on a user instruction! /, A selection means for selecting whether the area is! /, A shift, an autofocus means for performing an autofocus process on the area selected by the selection means,

Displayed on the display means with the autofocus means focused on the area! Shooting means for shooting the shooting target;

A mobile phone comprising:

[2] The display means displays a different number for each area in association with each area, and the selection means displays the same number as the number of each area displayed on the display means. 2. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein an area corresponding to the designated number is selected.

[3] The control device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control unit that controls the autofocus unit to perform an autofocus process on the selected region when the region is selected by the selection unit. The mobile phone described in 1.

[4] The portable device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit controls the photographing unit to perform photographing of the photographing target when the region is selected by the selection unit.

[5] The mobile phone according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the selection means is used for designating a telephone number of a call partner in the non-image shooting mode.

[6] A step of dividing an image to be photographed into a plurality of areas and displaying it on a display screen;

A step of selecting one of the areas by a switch corresponding to the area one-to-one;

Focusing on the selected area;

An autofocus method comprising: